Rigging configuration for a commercial fishing trawl

Abstract

A commercial fishing trawl has a net and a mouth opening defined by a head line, a foot line, and side lines. The mouth opening is spread by a plurality of foil segments threaded on one or more of the head line, foot line, or side lines. Foil segments may also be threaded on tag lines or foil lines attached about the mouth opening to spread and maintain the mouth opening as the trawl is towed through the water, behind a tow vessel.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fishing trawl, comprising:
 a net having a mouth opening defined by a head line, a foot line, and side lines; and   a plurality of longitudinally alignable foil segments each having a foil cross-section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, the leading edge and trailing edge defining a chord, a span, and an internal conduit extending along the span positioned rearward of the leading edge of the foil segment;   wherein one of the head line, foot line, or side lines pass through the internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments.   
     
     
         2 . The fishing trawl of  claim 1 , wherein the foil cross-section is asymmetric. 
     
     
         3 . The fishing trawl of  claim 1 , wherein the internal conduit is positioned along the chord. 
     
     
         4 . The fishing trawl of  claim 1 , wherein the internal conduit is positioned to one side of the chord. 
     
     
         5 . The fishing trawl of  claim 1 , further comprising a second head line, a second foot line, and second side lines, and wherein the foil segments each further comprise a second internal conduit extending along the span positioned forward of the trailing edge of the foil segment, wherein one of the second head line, second foot line, or second side lines pass through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments. 
     
     
         6 . The fishing trawl of  claim 5 , wherein each foil segment has opposing sides which converge rearwardly from the leading edge to give each foil segment a trapezoidal-like shape with a divergent angle between the sides of adjacent foil segments. 
     
     
         7 . The fishing trawl of  claim 6 , comprising an adjustment mechanism to vary the length of the second head line, second foot line, or one of the second side lines passing through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments. 
     
     
         8 . A fishing trawl, comprising:
 a net having a mouth opening defined by a head line, a foot line, and side lines;   a foil line having a length and opposed ends; and   a plurality of longitudinally alignable foil segments each having a foil cross-section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a span, and an internal conduit extending along the span positioned rearward of the leading edge of the foil segment;   wherein the foil line passes through the internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments and is attached at each opposed end to one of the head line, foot line, or side lines at spaced apart locations.   
     
     
         9 . The fishing trawl of  claim 8 , further comprising a second foil line having a length and opposed ends;
 wherein the plurality of foil segments further comprise a second internal conduit extending along the span positioned forward of the trailing edge of the foil segment; and   wherein the second foil line passes through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments and is attached at each end to one of the head line, foot line, or side lines at spaced apart locations.   
     
     
         10 . The fishing trawl of  claim 9 , wherein each foil segment has opposing sides which converge rearwardly from the leading edge to give each foil segment a trapezoidal-like shape with a divergent angle between the sides of adjacent foil segments. 
     
     
         11 . The fishing trawl of  claim 10 , comprising an adjustment mechanism to vary the length of the second foil line passing through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments. 
     
     
         12 . A fishing trawl, comprising:
 a net having a mouth opening defined by a head line, a foot line, and side lines;   a foil line having a length and opposed ends; and   a plurality of longitudinally alignable foil segments each having a foil cross-section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a span, and an internal conduit extending along the span positioned rearward of the leading edge of the foil segment;   wherein the foil line passes through the internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments and is attached to one of the head line, foot line, or side lines at spaced apart locations by way of a plurality of bridle lines.   
     
     
         13 . The fishing trawl of  claim 12 , further comprising a second foil line having a length and opposed ends;
 wherein the plurality of foil segments further comprise a second internal conduit extending along the span positioned forward of the trailing edge of the foil segment; and   wherein the second foil line passes through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments.   
     
     
         14 . The fishing trawl of  claim 13 , wherein the second foil line is secured at each end to prevent egress from the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments. 
     
     
         15 . The fishing trawl of  claim 14 , wherein each foil segment has opposing sides which converge rearwardly from the leading edge to give each foil segment a trapezoidal-like shape with a divergent angle between the sides of adjacent foil segments. 
     
     
         16 . The fishing trawl of  claim 15 , comprising an adjustment mechanism to vary the length of the second head line, second foot line, or one of the second side lines passing through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments. 
     
     
         17 . A fishing trawl, comprising:
 a net having a mouth opening defined by a head line, a foot line, and side lines, and trawl doors spaced apart from and attached to each side line by way of bridle legs;   a tag line attached to the bridle legs and positioned between the side lines and the trawl doors; and   a plurality of longitudinally alignable foil segments each having a foil cross-section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a span, and an internal conduit extending along the span positioned rearward of the leading edge of the foil segment;   wherein the tag line passes through the internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments.   
     
     
         18 . The trawl of  claim 17 , further comprising a second tag line attached to the bridle legs and positioned between the side lines and the trawl doors;
 wherein the plurality of foil segments further comprise a second internal conduit extending along the span positioned forward of the trailing edge of the foil segment; and   wherein the second tag line passes through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments.   
     
     
         19 . The fishing trawl of  claim 18 , wherein each foil segment has opposing sides which converge rearwardly from the leading edge to give each foil segment a trapezoidal-like shape with a divergent angle between the sides of adjacent foil segments. 
     
     
         20 . The fishing trawl of  claim 19 , comprising an adjustment mechanism to vary the length of the second tag line passing through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments. 
     
     
         21 . A fishing trawl, comprising:
 a net having a mouth opening defined by a head line, a foot line, and side lines;   a foil line having a length and opposed ends, attached to one of the side lines by way of a plurality of bridle legs;   a plurality of longitudinally alignable foil segments each having a foil cross-section, a leading edge, a trailing edge, a span, and an internal conduit extending along the span positioned rearward of the leading edge of the foil segment;   a triangular-like bridle attached to the foil line having an apex, sides, and a base, wherein the apex is defined by a connection point between the bridle and a warp line, the sides are defined by a first bridle line attached between the connection point and one end of the foil line and a second bridle line attached between the connection point and the other end of the foil line, and the base is defined by the foil line; and   one or more intermediate bridle lines attached between the connection point and the foil line;   wherein the foil line passes through the internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments.   
     
     
         22 . The fishing trawl of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of foil segments are longitudinally aligned, the sides of the bridle are of equal length, and the lengths of the one or more intermediate bridle lines are sized accordingly. 
     
     
         23 . The fishing trawl of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of foil segments are longitudinally aligned, the sides of the bridle are of unequal length, and the lengths of the one or more intermediate bridle lines are sized accordingly. 
     
     
         24 . The fishing trawl of  claim 21 , wherein the plurality of foil segments are curved, the sides of the bridle are of equal length, and the lengths of the one or more intermediate bridle lines are sized accordingly. 
     
     
         25 . The fishing trawl of  claim 24 , further comprising a second foil line having a length and opposed ends;
 wherein the plurality of foil segments further comprise a second internal conduit extending along the span positioned forward of the trailing edge of the foil segment; and   wherein the second foil line passes through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments.   
     
     
         26 . The fishing trawl of  claim 25 , wherein each foil segment has opposing sides which converge rearwardly from the leading edge to give each foil segment a trapezoidal-like shape with a divergent angle between the sides of adjacent foil segments. 
     
     
         27 . The fishing trawl of  claim 26 , comprising an adjustment mechanism to vary the length of the second foil line passing through the second internal conduits of the plurality of foil segments.